Before you get frightened of what your mouth ulcer might entail, keep in mind that the vast majority of mouth ulcers are common and go away on their own within a couple weeks. The mucous layer that protects the inside of your mouth is the only line of defense in there against bacteria and germs so, understandably, sometimes viruses make it through the paltry barricades and wreak havoc to your mouth. If, however, three weeks have passed and your ulcer persists, it may be a sign that something worse than a simple mouth ulcer is afoot. Here, then, are descriptions of mouth ulcers that can be dangerous.

Squamous cell carcinoma, otherwise known as mouth cancer or oral cancer, is very dangerous and it often arises in the form of mouth ulcers at first. If your ulcer persists for over twenty days or if it bleeds often, you should definitely see a physician in order to rule out this dangerous possibility. It is estimated that almost ten percent of all cancerous growths are from oral cancer and anybody who smokes, dips, or drinks to excess is at risk for oral cancer. You’ll be able to tell a cancerous mouth ulcer from a typical one by checking the color. If it is overly pale or overly dark, be wary. If it is small and painless, be doubly concerned. If you begin to get a strange taste in your mouth, schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.

Lichen planus is another possible suspect when it comes to mouth ulcers. With Lichen planus, your ulcer may be itchier than a normal mouth ulcer and it may look more like a rash. This disorder is dangerous because it can lead to oral cancer and may damage your entire mouth if left untreated. Fortunately, it is completely curable through a combination of antibiotics and antihistamines. It may take several weeks but it can be destroyed fully and effectively provided you catch it in time. Keep in mind that some cases take over a year to fully recover and there is an increased chance of this disease returning at intermittent periods for the rest of your life.

The vast majority of harmless mouth ulcers arise because of irritation to the mucous membrane. Unfortunately, this same irritation could possibly be a very frightening and harmful disorder known as Leukoplakia. This disorder, frequently seen on the side of the tongue, takes on the form of fuzzy white patches. They are usually painless, though disgusting, and are fairly common among pipe smokers and people who use dip or chaw. These patches can spread in the mouth and can become cancerous quite easily. Many mouth ulcers are in fact harbingers of an autoimmune deficiency, since the mouth becomes infected so easily when no immune system is present. Leukoplakia is no exception, with many people who suffer from HIV displaying the trademark white, hairy patches on the tongue and gums. Naturally, you’ll want to seek medical help the second your mouth ulcer changes color. If nipped in the bud, Leukoplakia won’t be able to turn into cancer, but that doesn’t mean the disorder didn’t arise become of something preexisting.

As mentioned above, a good rule of thumb is to see a doctor if a mouth ulcer doesn’t go away in three weeks or drastically changes color or size. An oral ulcer can be completely harmless or utterly detrimental, so never turn your back on one completely.

© 2009, Mouth Ulcers Cause. Copyright All rights reserved.

Related posts:

1. Is My Mouth Ulcer a Sign of Something Worse? Mouth ulcers, while annoying, are generally benign. After all, a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This entry was posted on at and is filed under Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.